Apparatus for lifting and laterally supporting a cotton receiving basket of a cotton harvester

A cotton harvester, comprising:

• a mobile frame;
• a cotton receiving basket having a peripheral portion therearound including a front end, rear end opposite the front end, and spaced sides extending between the front end and the rear end;
• a first extendable fluid cylinder including a first elongate rod mounted for telescopic axial movement relative to a first cylinder body, the first cylinder body having an outer axially extending surface;
• a second extendable fluid cylinder including a second elongate rod mounted for telescopic axial movement relative to a second cylinder body, the second cylinder body having an outer axially extending surface;
• a third extendable fluid cylinder including a third elongate rod mounted for telescopic axial movement relative to a third cylinder body, the third cylinder body having an outer axially extending surface;
• the first cylinder body, the second cylinder body, and the third cylinder body being fixedly mounted to the mobile frame so as to extend upwardly therefrom at spaced locations around the peripheral portion of the cotton receiving basket, the first rod, the second rod, and the third rod being mounted to the cotton receiving basket at the spaced locations, respectively, such that the fluid cylinders can be simultaneously telescopically extended to lift the cotton receiving basket relative to the frame;
• and
• a lateral support element mounted to the cotton receiving basket and axially movable along the first cylinder body in engagement therewith when the basket is lifted for substantially limiting lateral movement thereof relative to the first cylinder body.

Apparatus for lifting and supporting a cotton receiving basket of a cotton harvester relative to a mobile frame of the harvester, comprising:

• a first extendable fluid cylinder including a first elongate rod mounted for telescopic axial movement relative to a first cylinder body, the first cylinder body having an outer axially extending surface;
• a second extendable fluid cylinder including a second elongate rod mounted for telescopic axial movement relative to a second cylinder body, the second cylinder body having an outer axially extending surface;
• a third extendable fluid cylinder including a third elongate rod mounted for telescopic axial movement relative to a third cylinder body, the third cylinder body having an outer axially extending surface;
• the first cylinder body, the second cylinder body, and the third cylinder body being fixedly mounted to the mobile frame so as to extend upwardly from the frame at spaced locations around the cotton receiving basket, respectively, the first rod, the second rod, and the third rod being mounted to the cotton receiving basket at the spaced locations therearound, respectively, the fluid cylinders being operable to simultaneously telescopically extend the rods thereof to lift the cotton receiving basket relative to the frame;
• and
• a first lateral support element mounted to the cotton receiving basket at the first location and having at least one roller for engaging the first cylinder body and rolling therealong as the basket is being lifted, a second lateral support element mounted to the cotton receiving basket at the second location and having at least one roller for engaging the second cylinder body and rolling therealong as the basket is being lifted, and a third lateral support element mounted to the cotton receiving basket at the third location and having at least one roller for engaging the third cylinder body and rolling therealong as the basket is being lifted, the engagement of the lateral support elements with the cylinder bodies preventing the basket from moving laterally relative to the direction of lifting as the basket is being lifted.